PS. Here’s something from Wendy Harmer — another comic I admired in my formative years (and in fact asked for an autograph, on the school steps one day after she’d spoken at an assembly — she signed it “Thanks for asking”):

A little anecdote here. In the dim, distant past I found myself in a bar at the Edinburgh Festival with Rik Mayall and Nigel Planer and we struck up a conversation.

I was in awe of the both of them, obviously, and was looking for a discreet way to say to my idols, “I’m a comedian too”.

Just then a very pissed Aussie reeled out of the shadows and said: “Wendy Harmer! Big Gig! Fucken funny show. Love ya!”

Rik and Nigel both knew of The Big Gig and said they loved it.

For one moment there I was in the tent of comedy greatness and I thought I would die happy.

I can picture that moment, exactly. Recall my utter fandom and how pleased I was to think of myself as one of the “New Wave” comedy alumni.

They were the best, most thrilling times of my life. Inspired by all the genius performers in “The Comic Strip”.

All of you changed my life. Wouldn’t have run away and joined the circus without you!

6 Replies to “RIP Rik Mayall”

Yes, very sad. Rik Mayall was around my age so he was far too young to die. I loved the TV series (didn’t like Alexei Sayle however) – it was pretty outrageous for its time (like Monty Python a decade earlier and Ad Fab a decade later).
RIP.

The first Bad News TV special aired in January 1983. The movie This Is Spinal Tap wasn’t released until March 1984, though according to Wikipedia there was an earlier 1979 appearance in a “failed TV pilot” – but it doesn’t make it clear if that was actually broadcast.